Ergonomically balanced and moveable arm support system

Abstract

An ergonomically balanced arm support system to counterbalance the weight of the human arm is described. The arm support system includes a fastening mechanism, a vertical sliding support attached to the fastening mechanism, and an adjustable counterbalancing device which includes a tension wire. The adjustable counterbalancing device is attached to the vertical sliding support by an attachment mechanism. The arm support system further includes a horizontal pivoting support arm which includes a segment, a human arm support, and a vertical sliding mechanism. The vertical sliding mechanism includes a wire attachment, and the tension wire of the adjustable counterbalancing device is attached to the wire attachment of the vertical sliding mechanism. The vertical sliding mechanism is coupled to the vertical sliding support such that the horizontal support arm is capable of providing a substantial range of motion in a substantially vertical direction, and the horizontal support arm is further capable of providing a substantial range of motion in an additional direction. The additional direction is substantially perpendicular to the substantially vertical direction.

1 . An apparatus for providing support to a human arm, comprising:
 a fastening mechanism;   a vertical sliding support attached to the fastening mechanism;   an adjustable counterbalancing device comprising a tension wire, wherein the adjustable counterbalancing device is attached to the vertical sliding support by an attachment mechanism; and   a horizontal pivoting support arm comprising a segment, a human arm support, and a vertical sliding mechanism, the vertical sliding mechanism comprising a wire attachment, wherein the tension wire of the adjustable counterbalancing device is attached to the wire attachment of the vertical sliding mechanism; wherein   the vertical sliding mechanism is coupled to the vertical sliding support such that the horizontal support arm is capable of providing a substantial range of motion in a substantially vertical direction, and the horizontal support arm is further capable of providing a substantial range of motion in an additional direction, wherein the additional direction is substantially perpendicular to the substantially vertical direction.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the segment of the horizontal support arm comprises a slot or a rail along a length of the segment, and the human arm support is connected to the segment by way of the slot or rail such that the human arm support is capable of providing motion along the length of the segment. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the segment of the horizontal support arm is a first segment, and the horizontal support arm further comprises a second segment, wherein the first segment is connected to the second segment by way of a pivoting attachment. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising a motion limiting or damping device connected to the first segment or to the second segment or within the pivoting attachment. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the fastening mechanism comprises a fastening plate or a C-Clamp. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustable counterbalancing device is one of an air balancer, a spring balancer, or a gas shock. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the counterbalancing device is at a higher gravitational potential than the wire attachment. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the human arm support comprises a padded rest, a saddle, or a sling. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the vertical sliding support comprises a vertical track, and the vertical sliding mechanism is configured to slide along the vertical track. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the horizontal pivoting support arm further comprises a horizontal pivot attachment between the vertical sliding mechanism and the segment. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the vertical sliding support comprises a pole, the vertical sliding mechanism comprises a shaft, the shaft is around a diameter of the pole, and the shaft is capable of providing motion along a length of the pole with substantially low friction. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the shaft is a ball bearing lined shaft. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the diameter of the pole is substantially circular, the shaft is further capable of providing motion around the diameter of the pole, and the attachment mechanism is a cap which fits over an end of the pole and is capable of allowing smooth movement of the adjustable counterbalancing device around the diameter of the pole. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the diameter of the pole is in a shape of an N-sided polygon with N greater than 2, and the horizontal pivoting support arm further comprises a horizontal pivot attachment between the shaft and the segment. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the motion in the substantially vertical direction is characterized by semi-weightless vertical movement. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a stopper on the tension wire. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a stopper on the vertical sliding support. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the vertical sliding support is rounded or bent. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the horizontal pivoting support arm is further capable of providing a substantial range of motion in a plane, wherein a unit normal of the plane is substantially parallel to the substantially vertical direction. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the horizontal pivoting support arm further comprises a vertical pivot attachment. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a damping or motion restricting device which is capable of damping or restricting the motion in the substantially vertical direction. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the human arm support is capable of securing an arm, an elbow, a shoulder, or a portion of an arm. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the human arm support is connected to the segment by way of a swivel attachment. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the human arm support is a strap attached to the segment such that the strap hangs below the horizontal pivoting support arm.